Words at Play:
Time for the 15th
Annual Literary Arts Festival
By Maureen Laura, Staff Writer

Between the 4th and
8th of October, ODU will instantly become an artistic community for the
15th Annual Literary Arts Festival. The campus may even resemble Greenwich
Village. Well, maybe not. But creative expression will certainly be in
the spotlight for the four days.

The
festival has expanded it's agenda this year to include theatre, music, dance,
and even snakehandling. In the past, the festival has focused predominately
on literary works and readings. This year, however, other forms of artistic
performances have been added to offer some new and exciting experiences.

A play to be performed, Who All Killed Cock Robin, is a comic fantasy
about a poet obsessed with a fifteen foot sparrow and he is being hunted
down by a futuristic society. The author, William Patrick, is ODU coordinator
of the creative writing program and director of the upcoming Literary Arts
Festival.

Photo courtesy of Tim McLaurinSnakehandling essayist Tim McLaurin

Besides
comedy, the show also includes music and "crazy" stage effects. "It has
lots of crazy stuff," said Patrick.

His play is adapted
from The Death of Cock Robin by W.D. Snodgrass and is premiering at the
festival October 4.

Festival performances
of Who All Killed Cock Robin will be presented by the University
Players with Erlene Hendrix as director and can be seen at the Stables
Theatre, 1045 W. 47th street.

A musical presentation
by Collegium Musicum captures the zestful spirit of drinking songs and
the romantic lust of courtly love experienced during the Medieval period.
The group also plays on instruments modeled after those used during that
time period, between 1400-1650 A.D.

Singing performances
by Agnus Fuller and Frank Ward will accompany the group, October 5th in
Chandler Recital Hall.

Other musical presentations
include Ebony Impact: ODU Gospel Choir and an original jazz performance
by John Toomey, an ODU music professor.

Original work in dance
by Marilyn Marloff, ODU coordinator of the dance degree program, will
be presented to accompany a fiction reading from Paul West.

The combination of creative
talents, according to Patrick, produces hybrid art forms and allows unique
experiences for the community.

A combination of fiction
reading and snakehandling by Tim McLaurin may provide that unique experience.
McLaurin, former carnival performer and author of two books, will be seen
handling his very large snake October 5th in the University Theatre. Although
McLaurin has used poisonous snakes in the past, the poisonous condition
of the snake for this performance is unknown.

As always, the Literary
Arts Festival includes many poetry, fiction and non-fiction readings from
influential writers. Among them are ODU English professors Philip Raisor,
Janet Sylvester, Wayne Ude and David Fenza.

Witnessing the reading
can be inspiring and entertaining. "It's a magic act with words," said
English professor Dr. Michael Pearson, "and you get to see the words materialize."

Past Literary Festivals
have been thoroughly enjoyed by students of all majors. The event gives
students the opportunity to informally meet important, influential people.

"There's a lot of camaraderie,"
said Pearson.

High participation is
expected at this year's Literary Arts Festival by students, professors
and community members. Therefore, Patrick suggests arriving to events
early. Check the festival schedule for performance times and locations.

Although most events
are free, those with a charge have a $5.00 student rate.

Staff Photo by Bob Lake

Above, Erlene Hendrix directs the University players
in William Pactrick's play, Who All Killed Cock Robin?